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FLUIEJS lN-Ifl-'IEQLPTEM Y A Re. 18,135

2 Sheets-Sheet l July 2l, 1931.

Original Filed July l2. 1926 IN VEN TOR.

fw Q W UI O M July 21, 1931. v Re. 18,135

' Original Filed July l2, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Reissued July 21, 1931UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDI'UND J. TE PAS, 0F LAKEWOOD, OHIO,ASSIGHOB TO THE PATROL VALVE COIPANY. F CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION0F OHIO FLUID CONTROL sYs'rEll Original lo. 1,683,213,'dated September4, 1928, Serial No. 121,910,411ed lilly 12, 1928. Application Ictreissue led September 30,

This invention relates to gas fired Water heaters and more particularlyto that type of water heater employing a, constantly burning pilot lightfor the ignition of gas supplied intermittently to a main heatingburner.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a safe, positive andreliable means for controlling the flow and ignition of gaseous fuel toa heating burner.

' Another object of this invention is to provide a fluid heater in whichthe temperature of the fluid automatically controls the flow of gaseousfuel to a pilot controlled thermally actuated'valve.

A further object of this invention includes vthe provision ofindependent and distant control means for a heater of the type shown.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this speciiication,Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of a storage automatic waterheater provided with my improved fuel control; Figure 2 is a transversesection of the thermostatic valve taken on line II-II Figure 1; Figure 3is an enlarged sectional elevation of the thermally actuated valve shownin Figure 1; Figure 4 is an elevation partly in section and largelydiagrammatical of a thermostat that may be used in lace of thethermostat shown in Figure 2; igures 5 and 6 are sections taken on linesIV-IV and V-V respectively of Figure 3.

Referring to the form of the device shown in Figure 1, the numeral1-indicates a water storage tank provided with a heater of the side armtype. The numeral 2 refers to the casing of this heater in which arehoused the usual water circulating elements in communication at theirupper and lower ends with the corresponding parts of the tank 1.

A main gas burner 3 is supported in the bottom of the heater casing 2.Adjacent the main burner 3 is a constantly burning pilot 4 for ignitinggas supplied to the main burner -and also functioning in the operationof the thermally actuated valve 5 in a manner considered in detail inanother part of this specification.

Gas is supplied to the main burner by a main feed line 6.

1929. Serial No. 396,339.

A needle'valve 7 controls the iow of gas to the constantly burning pilot4. The flow of gas to the burner 3 is controlled by four valves adjaoent the burner in the feed line 6. These valves comprise a manuallyoperable one Way cock 8, a thermostatic valve 9 responsive to thetemperature of the Water in the tank 1, a thermally actuated valve 5controlled by the thermostatic valve 9 and a distant control one waycock 10 and lastly a. 00 burner adjustment valve 11 of similarconstruction to the valve 59 shown in detail in Figure 3. The valves 7,8, '10 and 11 are of conventional and well known design. The valves 9and 5 however are to the best of my knowledgenew in the art of gaseousfuel con- -t-rol and cooperate to produce a new and useful result. Thethermally actuated valve 5 itself including the needle valve 59 and heatconcentrating shield forms the subject matter of a copending applicationSerial No. 237 ,644. of Wallace J. Snow and is not specifically claimedin this one.

The thermostatic valve 9 shown in detail in Figure 2 is supported in thetank 1 by the threaded coupling 12. Extending from the coupling into thetank 1 and in contact with the fluid conlined therein, is a thermostatof a well known type. This thermostat is made in the preferred form of acopper tube 13 adapted to be screwed into the coupling 12 and enclosinga rod 14 made of a material having a low coeilicient of expansion suchas porcelain or carbon. A valve stem 15 is j onrnaled in the coupling 12and is in contact at one end with the rod 14.

The diierential expansion of thev rod and tube 14 and 13 when subjectedto temperature changes serves to actuate the valve stem 15. Attached tothe valve stem 15 by means of a ball and socket joint 16 similar tothejoint 56 in Figure 3, is a valve head 16.- This valve head 16 cooperateswith a seat 17 formed in the valve casing 1 8 to control the iow offluid therethrough.

The valve casing 18 is provided with a pair of internally threadedlateral extensions 29 and 30 the first of which is adapted to receivethe couplingr 12 and the other extension 30 is adapted to form a housingfor a secondary 100 valve head 24 mounted on the valve stem 23 similarlyto the mounting of the valve head 16 on its valve stem y15. A cap 19forms a closure for the extension 30.

A partition element is adapted to be screwed into the extension 30. Thiselement 25 provides a guide and bearing for the valve stem 23, separatesthe casing 18 into two valve chalnbers and carries a valve seat 31coacting with the valve head 24 to control the flow of gas between thetubes 21 and 22. The valve heads 16 and 24 form a tandem or dual valve.An extension 28 of the valve stem 15 projects into the bored end of thevalve stem 23 and is adapted to make contact with the adjustable screw32 which furnishes a means of timing the opening of the valve head 24relative to the valve head 16. A pair of springs 26 and 27 urge thevalve heads towards the thermostat rod 14.

A system of compounding levers such as shown in Patents Number 610,281and 682,345 to E. Ruud may be used in connection with the tube and rod13 and 14 where a greater range of movement is required for the valveheads 16 and 12. Figure 4 also illustrates another manner ofaccomplishing the same object and in which 12 indicates the thermostatcoupling and 15 the valve stem. This form of thermostat comprises ahollow tube 13 adapted to be secured to the coupling 12 and in contactwith the fluid in the tank 1. An expansible-collapsible element 67 issecured to the tube 13. The tube 13 and element 67 form a sealed fluidcontainer. The expansion and contraction due to temperature changes of afluid confined within this container actuates the element 67 and throughthe lever 65 and link 66 moves the valve stem 15.

Thermostats of this type having an ex- )ansible-contractible bellowssuch as 67, can e made giving a stroke of l@ of an inch between themaximum and minimum working temperatures encountered in a water heatingsystem of the type described.

As a means of preventing the admission of gas to the main burner attimes when such admission might result in a dangerous condition, as forexample when the pilot llame 4 is extinguished, a thermally actuatedvalve 5 is installed inthe gas line 20 between the thermostatic valve 9'and the main burner 3. The active element of this valve is a bimetallicthermal element which has the property of changing its shape from astraight line to an arc of a circle when subjected to the heat of aflame from the auxiliary burner 36.

In the present instance the thermal element 35 is in the specific orm ofa flat narrow strip secured at its upper end to the housing 37 by a bolt38. The lower or free end of the element 35 is connected to theadjustable link 39, connected toa vertically arranged oscillatabletoggle acting member 40, the latter acting in conjunction with thespring resisted toggle acting elements 41 having the interposed spring42. These toggle acting elements are removably and adjustably secured inposition by means of the securing and adjusting pin 43. The toggleacting member straddles an extension of the valve stem 44 and is adaptedto form a lost motion connection between its contacting edges 45 and theannular projections 46 and 47 of the adjustable element 48 on the stem44. The adjustable element 48'is held in position along the stem 44 bythe locknut 49. A pliable fpacking diaphragm 50 is secured to the valvestem 44 and to the valve casing 51 by means of la flanged sleeve 52 andnut 53 and the threaded plug 54. A disc shaped valve head 55 isadjustably mounted on the end of the valve stem 44 by means of a balland socket joint 56.

The valve head 55 is positioned bet-Ween a -pair of axially alignedvalve seats 33 and 34 formed respectively in the valve casing 51 and thespring holder 57 and cooperates in controlling the flow of gas to themain burner f 3 and the auxiliary burner 36 with the tandem valve 9. Anadjustable needle valve 59 is located in the passage 58 to control theheight of the llame of the burner 36. A spring 60 maintains contactbetween the edge 45 of the toggle member 40 and the annular projection46 when toggle member 40 is to the leftcf its dead center position inFigure 3.

A pilot burner supporting block 61 is secured to the housing 37 by meansof a bolt or screw' 62 and is provided with passage ways to connect theconstantly burning pilot flame 4 with its supply tube 63 and the burner36 with its supply tube 22.

In the operation of the device the pilot 4 is first lighted and theValve 8 then opened admitting gas to the thermostatic valve 9.

If the Water in the tank 1 is below a predetermined temperature thethermostat will cause both the valve heads 16 and 24 to be in openposition admittinggas to the thermally actuated valve 5. The valve 5 isnormally in a closed position except when the main burner is inoperation.

In the closed position of the valve 5 gas admitted to it passes to theauxiliary burner 36 by way of passages 58, 21 and 22. This gas isignited by the flame 4 and serves to heat the bimetallic strip 35 whichis constructed of two metallic strips 35 and 35 that are bonded orwelded to each other. Inthe present case the strip 35 is made of a metalhaving a high coefficient of expansion such as brass or Monel metal andthe strip 35 is made of a metal having a low coelicient of expansionsuch as invar.

Upon the application of heat to the strip 35, the differential expansionof the two dissimilar metals 35 and 35" causes its free end to move tothe left. when viewed as in Figure 3. This movement of the strip 35 iscommunicated to the adjustable link 39 and the toggle acting` members 40and 41 which upon passing their dead-center position utilize part of theenergy stored in the spring to snap the valve head away from its seat 33by way ofthe valve rod 44 thus admitting gas to the main burner 3 whichis ignited by the pilot 4.

Immediately after the opening of the valve 5, the valve head 55 ispressed against the seat 34 closing the passageway to the burner 36. Theextinguishment ofthe llame from the burner 36 permits the strip 35 tocool and graduallyreturn towards its former position. The sprin causesthe valve head 55 and associated e ements 44, 41, 40 and 39 to fol-v lowthe movement of the strip 35 forming a graduatin thermostatic valve withthe seat 34. By t ese means, a regulated and con# trolled flow of gas issupplied to the burner 36 sulicient to keep the valve head 55 in theopen position with respect to its seat 33 so long as gas is supplied tothe valve 5 and the valve head 30 is in its open position.

As the temperature of the water is raised, the differential expansion ofthe thermostat element 13 and 14 allows the springs 26 and 27 to shiftthe valve heads 24 and 16 towards their seats. Further movement of thethermostat seats Vthe valve head 24 cutting olf the supply of gas to theburner 36 which allows the bimetallic strip 35 to cool and close thethermally actuated valve 5 cutting oi the supply of gas to the mainburner.V In the event that the valve 5 does not close when the burner 36is extinguished, continued heating of the water in the tank 1 will causethe tank thermostat to close the valve formed by the head 16 and seat 17in the main feed line and shut olf the supply of gas to the main burner.This secondary closure means is provided as a factor of safetypositively to 45 cut olf the gas supply to the main burner should thethermally actuated valve 5 fail to function. Cooling of the wateractuates the valve in a reverse manner, opening first the valvecontrolled by the head 16 and upon y a further drop in temperature, thevalve con'- trolled by the head 24.

Under normal operating conditions the gas supply to the main burner iscontrolled by the tank thermostat with its valve head 24 and thethermally actuated valve 5. The valve head 16 comes into use onl underabnormal conditions such as stated a ove.

The cycle of operations described contem` plates the presence of thepilot llame 4. If for 6 any reason this flame should be extinguished andthe cock 8 be open, gas may be admitted to the valve 5 and a smallamount by-passed from the valve 5 to the burner 36 by way of the paages58, 21 and 22. `In the absence of the llame 4 the small auxiliary burner36 A that it is impossible cto supply gas to the main burner unless theignition flame 4 is burn'- ing.

The valve 1() provides a simple and effective means of controlling theheater from a distant point. In most installations the water heater islocated in the basement and by extending the gas line 22 from the heaterto the bathroom or kitchen and having a valve such as 10 located in theline 22 extended in these rooms, the heater can be put into or out ofoperation by opening or closing this valve, which provides a distant andmanually operable control for the auxiliary burner 36.

The valve 10 effects the operation of the thermally actuated Valve 5 inthe same manner as the thermostatic valve comprisingthe head 30 and seat31. Thus closing the valve 10 cuts off the supply of gas to the burner36 and upon extingulshment ofI the flame from this burner the valve 5 isclosed in the manner previouslyv described and the fuel supply -to themain L-urner is cut off. Opening the valve 10 will permit the valve 9 toautomatically control the operation of the heater in the mannerdescribed.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the particular forms fapparatus shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth,are presented for purposes of explanation and illustration and thatvarious modifications of such apparatus and procedure can be madewithout departing from my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a tllermostatic valve, a valve casing, a valve seat formedtherein, a partition element providing a second valve seat andseparating the valve casing into two chambers, a pair of loosely coupledvalve heads coacting with said valve seats to control a pair ofindependent passages, thermally actuated means to move first one valveand then the other to the open position, and resilient means to actuatethe valve heads to their closed position. A

2. In a fluid fuel control system, a thermally actuated valve to controlthe ilow of fluid fuel, an auxiliary burner for supplying the heatnecessary for the operation of said valve, a constantly burning ignitionpilot burner adjacent thereto, a dual valve having passages controlledbyand leading from said dual valve to the thermally actuated valve andthe auxiliary burner, means t9 actuate the dual valve to first admitfuel to the thermally actuated valve when in its closed position andthen admit fuel to the auxiliary burner to open the thermally actuatedvalve.

3. In a fluid fuel control system, a thermallyr actuated valve' tocontrol the flow of fuel, an auxiliary burner for supplying the `heatnecessary for the operation of said valve, a constantly burning ignitionpilot burner adjacent thereto, a dual valve having passagewayscontrolled by and leading from said dual valve to the thermally-actuated valve and the auxiliary burner, means toactuate the dual valveto first admit fuel to the thermally actuated valve when in its closedposition and then admit fuel to the auxiliary burner to open thethermally actuated valve and means to cut off the supply of fuel to theauxiliary' burner to close the valve.

4. In a fluid fuel control system, a source of fuel supply, a thermallyactuated fuel valve, an auxiliary burner for supplying the heatnecessary for the operation of said valve, a continuously operatingpilot burner in igniting relation thereto, a dual valve connected tosaid source of fuel supply, conduits separately controlled therebyconnecting said dual valve to said thermally actuated valve and to saidauxiliary burner, and means to actuate said dual valve for supplyingfuel to said thermally actuated valve and to said auxiliary burner.

5. In a fluid fuel control system, a source of fuel` suppl a `thermallyactuated fuel valve, an auxi iary burner for supplying the heatnecessary for the operation of said valve, a continuously operatingpilot burner in igniting relation thereto, a dual valve having a pair ofcontrolled ports in communication with separate outlet passageways,conduits connecting said passageways to said -thermally actuated valveand to said auxiliary burner, and means for opening first one and thenthe other of the ports of said dual valve to supply fuel to saidthermally actuated valve and auxiliary burner.

6. In a fluid fuel burning appliance, a main `burner, a source of fuelsupply therefor, a

thermally actuated valve for controlling the fuel supply of said burner,an auxiliary burner for supplying the heat necessary for theoperation-of said valve, a thermostatic valve responsive to thetemperature conditions of the appliance for controlling the fuel supplyof said auxiliary burner, and manually operable means remote from theappliance for controlling the fuel supply of said auxiliary burner.

7. In a fluid fuel control system, a source of fuel supply, a thermallyactuated valve, a continuously operating pilot burner, an auxiliarydburner adapted to be ignited thereby for supplying the heat necessaryfor the operation` of said valve, actuating means, valve meansassociated therewith for separately controlling the supply of fuel tosaid thermally actuated valve and said auxiliary burner to control theoperation of said thermally actuated valve by controlling the operationof said auxiliary burner, and supplemental means remote from theappliance for controlling the fuel supply of said auxiliary burner.

8. In a valve, a valve casing, a valve seat formed therein, a partitionelement dividing said casing into two chambers and providing a secondvalve seat whereby two separate and distinct ported passageways areprovided in said casing, a pair of interconnected valve members coactingwith said valve seats to control independent and non-communicatingpassageways in said casing, and means to actuate said valve members.

9. In a fluid fuel control system, a main burner, a thermally actuatedvalve for controlling the flow of fuel to said main burner, a heatresponsive device for actuating said valve, a constantly burning pilotburner, an auxiliary burner ignitable by said pilot burner for supplyingheat to said heat responsive device, thermostatic means independent ofsaid valve to admit fuel to said auxiliary burner to open said valve andsupply fuel to said main burner, means for regulating the amount of fuelflowing to said auxiliary burner, and a separate means to cut off thesupply of fuel to the auxiliary burner to close said valve and therebycut off the supply of fuel to said main burner.

10. In a fluid fuel control system, a main burner, a thermally actuatedvalve for controlling the flow of fuel to said main burner, a heatresponsive device for actuating said valve, a constantly burning pilotburner, an auxiliary burner ignitable by said pilot burner for supplyingheat to said-heat responsive device, means independent of said valve foradmitting fuel to said auxiliary burner to open said valve and supplyfuel to the main burner, means for cutting off the supply of fuel tosaid auxiliary burner to close the valve and cut ofl' the supply of fuelto the main burner, valve means to cut off the supply of fuel to saidthermally actuated valve, and a further means to regulate the amount offuel flowing to said auxiliary burner.

11. In a safety fluid heating system, a fluid container, a main burner,a thermall actuated valve, a constantly burning pilot -urner, anauxiliary burner ignitable by said pilot burner for supplying the heatfor the actuation of said valve, means for supplying fuel to theauxiliary burner to open said valve and admit fuel to the main burnerwhen the temperature of the fluid falls to a predetermined limit, meansfor cutting off the supply of fuel to said auxiliary burner to shut offthe supply of fuel to the main burner when the temperature rises to apredetermined limit, means to regulate the amount of fuel flowing tosaid auxiliary burner, and thermostatic means to eut off the supply offuel to said thermally actuated valve without affecting the operation ofsaid pilot burner when the temperature exceeds a predetermined limit.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

EDMUND J. TE PAS.

